Single crystals of KPb2Cl5 were grown by vertical Bridgman technique from purified and synthesized material doped with Erbium up to a concentration of 5 mol% ErCl3. The purification was performed by zone refining at a rate of 3 cm/hr for 30 passes, with a final refining at a rate of 1 mm/hr. Segregation coefficient of Er3+ ions was found to be similar to0.5 for KPb2Cl5. The transmission through a 12-mm thick crystal was found to be similar to80%, the mid-infrared and visible upconversion luminescence spectra are reported. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.